Clutch disk



Patented June 10, 19 30 I v UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE cam. is swmrson, or a'ocxnonn, rumors; Assmnon, BY nnmc'r AND Imam? ASSIGNMENTS,- zro uncnemcs umvnnsar. JOINT COMPANY, or nocxronn, ILLI- N018, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CLUTCH 11181:

Application filed April 22,

' This invention relates to friction disk clutches and is concerned with the provision of a novel clutch disk especially suited to the requirements of motor vehicles.

5 The principal object of the invention is to provide a clutch disk possessing torsional flexibility by reason of properties inherent in the material of the disk itself, whereby to smoothen the power take-up, eliminate chatter and vibration and give a more quietly operating clutch and motor without-the increased cost and serious mechanical complications in structure-necessitated in previous designs having a similar purp'ose' inview.

Another ob ect is to provide a clutch disk of the character referred to made of rubber composition material, preferably vulcanized fabric, built up to a heav section for connection with the hub where the greatest .2 strains are concentrated in the operation of the clutch and diminishing in section to a relatively thin annular peripheral portion whereon to mount the clutch pad material, the resulting structure being not only of the desired lightness but the principal weight mg concentrated close to the axis of rotat1on so that inertia factors are reduced to a m1n1mum.

The invention is disclosed in the accompanymg drawin wherein- F1g. 1 1s a me ial sectionthrough-aclutch dlsr made in accordance with the invention; an

,2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional detai of alternative constructions. In friction clutches of the present t e,

v motion is transmitted from a driving s aft or motor to the driven clutch disk 5 usually through two oppositely disposed pressure 40 plates brought together'under spring pressure to drive the diskby frictional engagement about the rim portion where the frictlonal material or clutch, pads 6 are provided fixed to the disk in any suitable manner,

as by means of rivets 7. The central collar 8, oined to the disk 5 by a series of bolts 9 extending through the annular flan e 10' thereon, 1s arranged to have a spline connectlon with a driven shaft extending into to the gear box of the transmission, in the usual avoiding mutilation thereof by the nuts 14' 1920. Serial No. 103,010.

manner. According to the present invention, I have provided the disk f a rubber composition material, preferabl vulcanized fabric, such as that sold un er the trade name Thermoid, which is a rubberized cotton fabric material. The body of the disk is composed of a plurality of plies or laminae 11 bonded together'b rubber in the vulcanizing process. T e sections; may be built into the composite body in several ways, as illustrated inthe three views showing disks 5, 5',and 5". In Fig. 1 the bod of the disk com rises a series of sheets of fabric of di erent diameters bunched together giving a stepped crosssection with the thickest section at the hub and the thinnest section at the rim portion, the opposed faces of the body bein formed of continuous pieces from the hu to the periphery of the disk giving a flush exterior surface-as compared with the stepped exterior surface of the clutch disk 5 in Fig. 3. Another alternative, somewhat approached by the form shown in Fig. 1, is to build up the body of the disk as in 5' where 75 a central piece of the overall diameter has built onto its opposite sides pieces of increasing diameters each overlapping the outer edges of the next'piece, as shown, with the outermost pieces continuous from the hub to the periphery of the disk to give a flush exterior surface similar to that secured in Fi .1. Obviously the fabrication of the disk gody may assume various forms without sacrificin the more important advantages secured y the present inventlon. It will be noted that the clutch pads 6 are mounted directly on the annular rim portion '12 which for this purpose is made of a uniform section for a portion of the radius of the disk inwardly from the periphery thereof. The connection with the hub 8 on the flange 10 preferably includes a rm 13 serving as a backing for the disk an threading'on the'bolts 9. As illustrated, these nuts are preferably castellated to permit locking the same by the use of cotter pi 15 when the clutch, disk is permanently 1306 in assembled relation to the collar. 10o

To avoid the likelihood of either the flange 10 or the rin 13 cutting into the fabric, the

ed es thereo are rounded, as indicated at 16.

rom the foregoing description, it will be clear that the invention prov des the desired degree of'torsional flexibility by reason of properties inherent in the material of the disk itself. The use of the disk smoothens the power take-up, eliminates all noticeable chatter and vibration and results in a more quietly operating clutch and motor. The construction of the body of the disk with a heav section at the hub and diminishing towar a relatively thin section at the rim is of decided advantagefor the reasons that the maximum strength is thus afforded where the greatest strains are concentrated in the operation of the clutch while, at the same timekeeping the'weight to a minimum consistent with such strength and throwing the principal weight toward the axis of rotation so that inertia factors are reduced to a minimum. There is also avoided the increased cost and mechanical complications in structure involved in previous designs havinga similar purpose in view. It is obvious that'the disk of the present invention is practically as simple in construction as the ordinary conventional type.

It is believed that the foregoing description conveys a cleanunderstanding of the invention and of its purposes and advantages so that anyone skilled in, the art to which the inventmn relates will readily appreciate the ossible applications thereof. It will be un erstood that the invention is not limited to the particular forms illustrated but is capable. of a wide range of modifications embraced within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

.I claim: 7

1. A clutch disk composed of resilient vulcanized fabric material from its connection with the hub to the periphery thereof and having frictional material mounted directly thereon on the rim portion thereof.

the rim portion thereof, the fabric affording torsional flexibilit' for smoothness 1n operation and the pa affording the desired friction and wearing qualities for the thereon, the said material being treated to cause the laminae to cehere and form a stiff body, the said treatment serving also to lend resilience to the torsional flexibility of the material.

In witness of the foregoing I affix my sig-' nature. CARL E. SWENSQN.

providing a place for mounting the pads 2. A clutch disk of rubber composition material built up to ahea section at the center thereof and diminis ing in section toward the rim portion thereof, said rim portion'being of a uniform section a portion of the radius of the disk and providing a place for mounting friction clutch materlal.

3. A clutch disk of laminated fabric material vulcanized into a body thick in section at the hub portion where the greatest strains are concentrated in o ration and decreasing in section to a relatively thin annular peripheral portion providing a place for mountln'g frictional material on the op?" posite faces of said disk.

4. A clutch disk composed of fabric material from its connection with the hub to the periphery thereof and having pads of clutch facing material mounted dire ly on 

